Say it ain't so, Billy Gee...

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PrivacyZealot

From anti-malware activist Eric Howe's post at BBReports.com:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,13793423

quote-
Hi All:

Several sources have now confirmed that Microsoft downgraded its
detections of Claria's adware products in the latest update (#5731)
to Microsoft AntiSpyware released today.
Where Microsoft AntiSpyware used to detect Claria's products and
present users with a "Recommended Action" of "Quarantine,"
following today's update Microsoft AntiSpyware now presents users
with a "Recommended Action" of "Ignore" (see attached screenshot).
Users can still change the action to "Quarantine" or "Remove."

While Claria's products have not been removed from the Microsoft
AntiSpyware definitions, this change is troubling, coming so close
on the heels of the revelation that Microsoft has been in talks with
Claria to acquire the company:

»Is Microsoft about to buy Claria/Gator ???

Credit goes to Donna of "Calendar of Updates"
( »www.dozleng.com/updates/index.php?show.. ),
Ben Edelman ( »www.benedelman.org/news/063005-1.html ),
and Suzi of Spyware Warrior for testing and confirming this find.

Best,

Eric L. Howes
-unquote


Assuming for the moment that all of the above is indeed fact,
a perfectly reasonable, non paranoid, non anti-Microsoft agenda
question must be asked, and answered:
How do spyware and/or adware definitions that are dubious enough
to be quarantined one update period become so harmless as to be
ignored the following update period? Inquiring minds wanna know.
PZ
..
 
This is really sad :'(

From original spyware warrior blog

http://www.netrn.net/spywareblog/

This comment is really good:

Ed Bott wrote yesterday:
What is Microsoft thinking? This deal would be a P.R. disaster. The
only way it makes sense is if Microsoft buys the company, fires
everyone involved with it, has their buildings exorcised, and rewrites
every line of code in their product.

:')
 
PrivacyZealot said:
From anti-malware activist Eric Howe's post at BBReports.com:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,13793423

quote-
Hi All:

Several sources have now confirmed that Microsoft downgraded its
detections of Claria's adware products in the latest update (#5731)
to Microsoft AntiSpyware released today.
Where Microsoft AntiSpyware used to detect Claria's products and
present users with a "Recommended Action" of "Quarantine,"
following today's update Microsoft AntiSpyware now presents users
with a "Recommended Action" of "Ignore" (see attached screenshot).
Users can still change the action to "Quarantine" or "Remove."

While Claria's products have not been removed from the Microsoft
AntiSpyware definitions, this change is troubling, coming so close
on the heels of the revelation that Microsoft has been in talks with
Claria to acquire the company:

»Is Microsoft about to buy Claria/Gator ???

Credit goes to Donna of "Calendar of Updates"
( »www.dozleng.com/updates/index.php?show.. ),
Ben Edelman ( »www.benedelman.org/news/063005-1.html ),
and Suzi of Spyware Warrior for testing and confirming this find.
Click to expand...
Assuming for the moment that all of the above is indeed fact,
a perfectly reasonable, non paranoid, non anti-Microsoft agenda
question must be asked, and answered:
How do spyware and/or adware definitions that are dubious enough
to be quarantined one update period become so harmless as to be
ignored the following update period? Inquiring minds wanna know.
Click to expand...


Delisting "certain" products is not new to malware scanners. In Spybot
under its "Settings -> Ignore Products" configuration pane (under the
All Products or PUPS lists), you'll find:

CDilla
New.net
SideStep

The categories are not defined so I don't know what the PUPS category is
for. The above are in the PUPS category of threats (the CDILLA is also
listed under the Revision category). See
http://forums.net-integration.net/index.php?showtopic=31127. Why would
Spybot choose to hide, er, ignore that you got snookered into installing
C-Dilla (as part of some software for its copy protection scheme) or
hide that SideStep is installed
(http://www.doxdesk.com/parasite/SideStep.html, no longer a threat only
because it isn't covertly installed in a bundle, but did it stop
transmitting URLs and a unique ID with every page visited?).

It a pest reforms by no longer secreting itself in a bundled install or
otherwise perform a covert install, provides an entry in Add/Remove
Programs, includes an uninstall of itself with its dependent program,
puts an upfront license agreement in the user's face to read and allows
cancelling or aborting its install, or other actions then, yes, it may
no longer be seen as a threat but more of just a pest (presuming you
don't want it whereas there are some users that actually do want these
pests, er, utilities). Personally I don't know if Claria (aka Gain aka
Gator) has exercised any reform in how their software gets distributed,
installed, or uninstalled.

An interesting read regarding Claria is at
http://www.pcpitstop.com/gator/default.asp. Even Yahoo isn't immune to
getting stuck and burned by Claria. Maybe the reason the talks with
Microsoft with Claria is tentative right now is because Microsoft isn't
quite sure how many heads are on they hydra that they'll have to chop
off (i.e., how many contracts Microsoft will have to support once they
acquire Claria).
 
Vanguard said:
It a pest reforms by no longer secreting itself in a bundled install or
otherwise perform a covert install, provides an entry in Add/Remove
Programs, includes an uninstall of itself with its dependent program,
puts an upfront license agreement in the user's face to read and allows
cancelling or aborting its install, or other actions then, yes, it may
no longer be seen as a threat but more of just a pest (presuming you
don't want it whereas there are some users that actually do want these
pests, er, utilities). Personally I don't know if Claria (aka Gain aka
Gator) has exercised any reform in how their software gets distributed,
installed, or uninstalled.
Click to expand...


I agree with all of the above quoted segment, except the last
sentence. I know Claria is not upfront with users at the point
of installation. Reliable sources have reported upon this fact
time and time again. In fact, up until now, Microsoft herself
has apparently felt so, because Claria & Co. has been in
the MSAS definitions updates, with a MS recommendation
to *quarantine*.
Perhaps Microsoft and Claria have come to a solid decision
to /totally/ rid ClariaCo of any and all questionable practices.
But even if that were the case, the definitions shouldn't
have been neutered so suddenly. There are still many folks
whose equipment is still infected with the crapware, and
several weeks more of detection and removal is called for.
PZ
..
 
-----Original Message-----
From anti-malware activist Eric Howe's post at BBReports.com:
http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,13793423

quote-
Hi All:

Several sources have now confirmed that Microsoft downgraded its
detections of Claria's adware products in the latest update (#5731)
to Microsoft AntiSpyware released today.
Where Microsoft AntiSpyware used to detect Claria's products and
present users with a "Recommended Action" of "Quarantine,"
following today's update Microsoft AntiSpyware now presents users
with a "Recommended Action" of "Ignore" (see attached screenshot).
Users can still change the action to "Quarantine" or "Remove."

While Claria's products have not been removed from the Microsoft
AntiSpyware definitions, this change is troubling, coming so close
on the heels of the revelation that Microsoft has been in talks with
Claria to acquire the company:

»Is Microsoft about to buy Claria/Gator ???

Credit goes to Donna of "Calendar of Updates"
( »www.dozleng.com/updates/index.php?show.. ),
Ben Edelman ( »www.benedelman.org/news/063005-1.html ),
and Suzi of Spyware Warrior for testing and confirming this find.

Best,

Eric L. Howes
-unquote


Assuming for the moment that all of the above is indeed fact,
a perfectly reasonable, non paranoid, non anti-Microsoft agenda
question must be asked, and answered:
How do spyware and/or adware definitions that are dubious enough
to be quarantined one update period become so harmless as to be
ignored the following update period? Inquiring minds wanna know.
PZ
..


.
Click to expand...
It doesn't look good for us, I guess that rules out
buying out all spyware/adware makers and getting rid of
them altogether. So what was that one user on here
saying to me about being spyware/adware free? It sounds
like Microsoft don't want us to be.
 
Michelle laid this down on his screen :
It doesn't look good for us, I guess that rules out
buying out all spyware/adware makers and getting rid of
them altogether. So what was that one user on here
saying to me about being spyware/adware free? It sounds
like Microsoft don't want us to be.
Click to expand...

Well, this is no problem for us but for MS this is a cathastrophic
image loss.

Look at this test that Eric L Howe just have done:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/elh/claria-detections.htm

This is only a matter of knowledge and if MS creates something new
out of Claria, it will also be removed, there is no "friendly spy or
adware".

Out of this I have been looking at Counterspy (MSAS twin) and it is
really
cheap now, $ 20.

http://www.sunbelt-software.com/

Sunbelt about this Claria disaster for MS:
http://sunbeltblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/microsoft-sets-claria-to-ignore.html

"At any rate, does this mean that Claria will, in fact, be purchased by
Microsoft? Not necessarily. It could mean, however, that the two
companies are working together in some other capacity, or that Claria
has successfully lobbied Microsoft to change the default action. Or,
it's a simple oversight."
 
It happens that Andre Da Costa formulated :
Lets not jump to conclusion, all we know right now, this deal fell through.
Click to expand...

Ballmore is out of control..............!

From Ben Edelmanns page:

"The Times says Microsoft's Ballmer wants to be "more aggressive" in
pursuing Google. But an aggressive strategy need not ignore business
ethics -- even if Google's current distributors and partners are less
than praiseworthy (1, 2). So I'm surprised that Ballmer reportedly
personally approved negotiations with Claria. That said, others within
Microsoft apparently oppose the acquisition, and negotiations are
reportedly "on the verge" of breaking off. Cooler heads prevail, or so
it seems."

http://www.benedelman.org/news/063005-1.html
 
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